Potato-harvester.



No. 676,188. Patented lune ll, 190i. H. H. HIGDON.

POTATO HARVESTER.

(Application filed Aug. 13, 1900.)

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H. H. manna. POTATO HARVESTER.

(Application filed Aug. 13, 1900.)

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(N0 Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY I-I. HIGDON, or s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF ToCHARLES .LBEcK R, or SAME PLACE.

. POTATO-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,188, dated June 11,1901.

1 Application filed August 13, 1900. Serial No. 26,758. on) model.)

ments in Potato-Harvesters, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to potato-harvesters; and it consists of thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftershown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved harvester. Fig. 2 is aperspective view show- I5 ing a number of hooks of which I make use inmy improved potato-harvester. Fig. 3 shows aclutch by means of which theoperating-gear is thrown into and out of operative position. Fig. 4 is asectional view showing a portion of 2c the carrier. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a platform andsupport carried by the rear end of themachine. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sec tional view taken through theentire machine and shows the arrangement and construction of thedifferent parts. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the means bywhich the driving-gear is normally held in position. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of a portion of the mechanism carried at the rear ofthe ma- 0 chine. Fig. 9 is a view of the machine from the rear. Fig.10is a perspective view of the lower carrier. 7

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the traction-wheels, carried bywhich is asuitable 3 5 frame or bed 2, preferably of corrugated iron.

The said frame is provided with an open bottom, and pivoted to the sidesof the said frame and inclining downwardly toward the front is acarrier-frame 3, which is provided on its 0 lower end with adigger-point 4, the purpose of which is to operate beneath the surfaceand raise the potatoes up to the carrier. Said frame is provided with avertical side 5, by

means of which the potatoes are retained on thecarrier, which will nowbe described.

The. carrier-frame 3 is constructed with an open bottom and carries nearits upper extremity a horizontal shaft 6, and a similar shaft 7 iscarried near the lower end of the said carrier-frame. Inclined strips 9form r p the bottom of the carrier-frame and are spaced a suitabledistance apart to allow the passage of the soil as it becomes separatedfrom the potatoes. If preferred, the bottom 9 may be shaken during theoperation of the machine in order to facilitate the separation of thesoil from the potatoes. Rigid with the shafts 6 and 7 aresprocket-wheels 10, around which are carried chains 11, to which aresecured at suitable intervals the strips 12. The potatoes as they areraised by the point 4 are carried up to the strips 9, and the operationof the chains 11 carries them up by means of the strips 12, and at theupper end of the carrier frame they are deliveredinto asuitable pocket13, from which they are taken by the upper carrier and delivered to anysuitable receptacle.

The carrier-frame 3, as stated, is pivoted to the frame 2, and may beraised or lowered 7e and adjusted to variations of the surfacelevel. Theshaft 6 projects a suitable distance through one side of the frame 2 andcarries on its outer end a pulley 14, around which is passed a belt 15,which also passes around a similar pulley on the shaft 16, supported inbearings in the sides of the frame 2, and carried on the opposite end ofthe shaft 16 is a gearwheel 17, which meshes with the internalgear-teeth 18 of the wheel 19. Said wheel 19 is keyed on the shaft 20,supported in bearings in the sides of the frame 2. The shaft 20 projectsbeyond the wheel 19, and feathered thereon by means of an integral key21 is a gear-wheel 22, the key 21 operating within a keyway 23. Theouter end of the shaft 20 is provided with an integral head 24, and aspring 25 is mounted around the shaft between the head 24 and the wheel22, thereby holding the wheel 22 in operative position.

Rigid with the rear axle is a large gearwheel 26, with which the spring25 normally holds the wheel 22 in mesh, and as the machine is drawn overthe surface the rotation 5 of the axle and the wheel 26 will rotate theshaft 20, and through the connecting-belt 15 the shafts 6 and 7 will berotated and the strips 12 will be moved, carrying the potatoes up anddelivering them into the pocket 13 in the manner described. On someoccasions it is desirable to move the machine with- 5 by to remainstationary. This is done by means ofa'friction-clutch, the constructionof which is 'best'shown in Fig. 3.

A rod 27 is supported by the side of the frame 2 and has its rear endbifurcated, as indicated by 28, and the bifurcated rear end engagesaround the shaft 20, between the wheels 19 and 22. A wedge-shaped member29 is carried by the fork 28, and when the rod 27 is drawn forwardly thesaid wedge is drawn between the wheels 22 and 19 and the spring 25 iscompressed, the wheel 22 being thrown out of mesh with the wheel 26. Thepa nay be retained in this position aslong as desired, and when it isdesired to throw thorn again into operative position the rod 27 is movedrearwardly, removing the wedge shaped member 29 from between the'wheels1:9jand'22, and-the tension of the s'pring 25 wiliautomatieally throwthe gear 22 back into mesh with the wheel 26.

Carried by the frame 2, adjacent to the pocket 13, is a shaft 30, and asimilar shaft 31 is supported by the rear end of the fraine 2. Sn, po-ted between the shafts 30 and 31 is a As shown in Fig'. 6, thecarrier-strips 35 operate within-the pocket 13, and the potatoes as theyare delivered into the pocket will be receiyed by the upper carrier andwill be carrieid upwardly above the frame 32 and delivered at the rearof the machine.

operatin the carrier when the machine is in operation.

serving thepo'tatoes. A platform or support chin-e is in operation.

supported by the frame 3B is a fan-casing 45, within which; is carriedframe 32; comprising a series of strips l1av The potatoes at the rear ofthe mao-hinearedelivered ontoa frame 38, are ranged at a suitableincline, from which they t-"QI end of the platform 39 isa vertical n emor 40, hinged to which is a deflecto'rplate 41-, by means of which thepotatoes may f be caused to pass on either side of the plat form, asdesired. Supporting-loops 42 are snpported by the platform 39, and rigidwith the said loops are the suspending-hooks 43', Q by means of whichany receptacle may be; supported ad jacent to the platform 39 forreerejiee beyond theend of the casing and carries a small pulley 5 1.Apulley 52 is secured upon the end of the shaft 31', and a belt 53is'passed around the said pulleys 51 and 52, thereby rotating the fanwhenever the machine is in operation. The current of air created by thefan .50 passes out through an opening 54 and assists in removing foreignparticles which may have been carried up with the potatoes. 7

The shafts 55 and 56 are supported by the frame 2 above the shafts 30and 31, and wheels 57 are carried by the said shafts, around which arepassed chains 58. Connecting-rods 59 are carried by the said chains 58,and projectingfroni the rods 59 are fingers or projec-' removeit fromthe potatoes, carrying it upwardly to the shaft 56, where it is removedby means of the hooks 62, with which it ongages as the carrie-Fframe oprates. The books 62 project'rearwhrdly and downwardly, and the materialwhich is engaged thereby will become detachedand drop to the ground. Asprocket-wheel 63 is carried on the end or the shaft 31, andasimilar'sprocketwheel 64: is carried by the shaft 56, and a chain 65,passing around the said sproeket-wheels, supplies the motive powerwhereby the shaft 56 is driven. The said shaft-56is supported by therear ends of the gear-racks 65-, slida-bly carried by the frame 2-. Agear-wheel 67, sup ported onthe trunnion 68, meshes with the rack 66,and whenever said gear-wheel 67 is I 3 rotated the rack 66 and the shaft56 'will be p 0n the outer end of the shaft 31 isa sprocket I 3'6, and achain 37 passes around the wheels 19 and 36, thereby rotating the shaft31 and operated. An arm 69 depends from the trunnion 68, and pivoted tothe lower end thereof is an operating-rod 70-, which projects forwardlyalong the side of the machine and terminates adjacent to the'seat 71.The operator by moving the rod 70 will rotate the-pinion 67, therebyoperating the racks 6G and moving the shaft 56 inwardly or outwardly, asrequired; Whenever the shaft 56 is moved, the chains 58 will be placedin a greater or less tension, as the case may be. H

Supported by the frame 2 above the chain 37 is a trnnnion 72, upon theouter end of which is a small 'sprocket whe'el 73, whioh is operated bythe chain 37. A second sprocketwheel 74 is carried by the trunnion 72,and a chain 75 passes around'the said trunnion and l u p is carriedforwardly around thev spro'clcet- 4-415 carriedbelow the platform 39,upon: "which the operator may stand when the mawheel 76, carried by theshaft 77, supported in bearings above the frame 2. A shaft 78-,

corresponding to the shaft 77, is supported 2 below the frame below'theframe 2 in advance of the carrier frame 5, and sprocket-wheels 79 arekeyed a rotary fan 50, the shaft of which projects upon the said shafts.Chains 80 are passed ICC around the sprocket-wheels 79,and thecarrierstrips 81 are secured to the said chains 80.

By this means an auxiliary carrier is formed which cooperates with thecarrier in the carrier-frame 3 and assists in elevating the potatoesinto the pocket 13 and also assists the carrier mounted around theshafts 55 and 66 in engaging with the herbage.

All the parts heretofore described are driven when the gear 22 is inmesh with the gear 26; but whenever the gear 22 is out of mesh with thegear 26 the entire mechanism will remain stationary and the machine maybe drawn over the surface without operating an y of the parts.

Connected to the sides 5 of the carrierframe 3 are the rods 82, whichextend upwardly within the frame 2 and operate within suitable guides.At the upper edges of the frame 2 the rods 82 are turned forwardly andare again bent downwardly, forming a vertical portion 83, which operateswithin the guides 84:. (See Fig. 6.) On the lower ends of the verticalportions 83 are carried colters 85, which operate in alinement with thesides 5 of the carrier-frame.

On some occasions it is desirable to move the machine over the surfacewithout having the lower carrier-frame in contact with the earth. As ameans for raising the said carrier-frameI provide a lever 86, pivotallycarried by the frame 2. To the lower arm of the lever is connected a rod87, the opposite end of which is secured to the sides 5 of thecarrier-frame. A ratchet-segment 88 is secured to the frame 2, and apawl 89, carried by the upper arm of the lever 86, operates upon thesaid ratchet-segment, thereby retaining the carrier-frame in anyadjustment in which itis placed.

The carriers 35 operate around the grateframe 32, the members of whichare arranged at such a distance from each other as to allow the smallerpotatoes to drop downwardly and be received within a receptacle 90,supported below the frame 2, while the larger potatoes are carriedupwardly and delivered onto the frame 38, from which they are removed inthe manner described. The rear end of the receptacle 90 is provided witha hinged bottom 91, which may be operated downwardly, thereby allowingthe potatoes which may be received within the said receptacle to beremoved therefrom. I provide a means for operating the said bottomcomwhich is best shown in Fig. 1.

prising the lever 92, which is connected by suitable connections to therear end of an operating-rod 93, carried in suitable bearings 94,secured to the side of the frame 2. The forward end of the operating-rodis arranged adjacent to the seat 71, the arrangement of By drawing therod 93 toward the rear the lever 92 and the connections connecting thesame to the rod 93 will be operated, thereby lowering the rear end ofthe bottom 91 and allowing the potatoes to drop out of the receptacle90.

I claim- 1. In a potato-harvester, an inclined carrier-frame having agrate-bottom, an adjustable digger carried by said frame, anelevating-carrier operating around the grate-bottom of thecarrier-frame, a pocket above the carrier-frame for receiving thepotatoes, a vinecarrier operating close to said pocket, an anxiliarycarrier above theinclined carrier-frame for assisting theelevating-carrier and for delivering the vines to the vine-carrier, asecond potato carrier for receiving the potatoes, means for. assertingand for delivering the smaller potatoes into a receptacle supportedbelow the frame, the larger potatoes being carried by saidsecond-mentioned potato-can rier onto a suitable frame at the rear ofthe machine, and means for delivering said potatoes from said frame intoany suitable re ceptacle, substantially as specified.

2. In a potato-l1arvcster,'the combination of a supporting-frame mountedon tractionwheels, a carrier-frame having a grate-bottom supported bysaid frame, a digger-point carried by said carrier-frame, a carrieroperating within said frame, and around the said grate-bottom forcarrying the potatoes upwardly, a rod 82 connected to each side of thecarrier-frame and having an extension 83, a colter carried by each ofthe extensions 83, a rod 87 at each side of the carrier-frame, a leverconnected to each of the rods 87 whereby the carrier-frame and thecolters 85 may be raised or lowered, and a segment adjacent to each ofsaid levers for holding them in position, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. HIGDON.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIOKS, JOHN D. RIPPEY.

